Microsoft Blames RGB Lighting Devices for Gaming Issues on Windows

Microsoft has attributed recent gaming issues on Windows to RGB lighting devices. The tech giant confirmed that games like ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals are experiencing crashes or failing to launch after installing the August 2026 Windows updates.

The affected systems run on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. Users report issues such as gaming freezes, 'EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION' errors, and unexpected system restarts.

Microsoft's investigation found that peripherals with RGB lighting features may be causing the problem. These devices install drivers or code components with file names similar to inpoutx64, which triggers the issue when launching certain games.

The company is working to understand the relationship between these RGB components and the affected games. In the meantime, Embark Studios, the developer behind ARC Raiders and The Finals, shared a temporary workaround that involves deleting the service and removing the inpoutx64 file from the Windows drivers folder.